Prof John Isaacs is running a pioneering arthritis clinical trial while Jane Sutton is a patient
Prof John Isaacs is running a pioneering arthritis clinical trial while Jane Sutton is a patient
Newcastle medics are pioneering a new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that "switches off" the chronic and painful condition.
A 54-year-old from the city is one of around 20 patients on a new trial assessing the treatment. Jane Sutton's first symptoms were pain in her fingers - but it got to a point during flair ups where she "couldn't even stand up" because she was in so much pain.
Jane has a family history of joint problems and was referred to the Freeman Hospital where she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. A mum-of-one, she was previously prescribed methotrexate, but had to stop this when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
While she has been given the all-clear, returning to the medication led to her struggle with nausea. She was told about a therapy trial which uses some of a patient's own cells - the dendritic cells known as "generals" because they regulate the immune system - to effectively tell a person's immune system to calm down.
A sample of white blood cells is taken from a patient, then sent to a laboratory where they are "stabilised" and re-injected into the patient. The idea is that this calms their system and prevents the cause of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
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The trial - known as AuToDeCRA - runs from Newcastle University and the city's hospitals. It has been found to be safe, and now experts are investigating how is best to re-inject the cells.
Jane, who has also had a treatment called biologics which helped her symptoms, said she was always positive about being involved in trials. She said: "Although my symptoms are currently under control, I know first-hand how painful and challenging it is living with rheumatoid arthritis. At one point, I couldn’t stand up without being in pain.
“I think clinical trials like this are so important and will hopefully help find a treatment that has less side effects compared to current medicines.”
The trial is also supported by the Versus Arthritis charity. Professor John Isaacs, a consultant rheumatologist at Newcastle Hospitals, is chief investigator for the study. He said: "Rheumatoid arthritis can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life. It is currently managed by taking immunosuppressant drugs, usually for life, and these medicines can have unpleasant side effects.
“Based on the first phase of the trial, we know that this treatment can safely be given to patients. We now need to determine if where we inject the medicine makes a difference to how well it works.
"In time, this treatment could provide significant benefits to people living with rheumatoid arthritis by ‘switching off’ the disease and avoiding the need for life-long treatments, with their associated side effects."
At this stage, the trial is looking at how injecting the cells into a joint, the skin, or the lymph nodes works. It is funded by Versus Arthritis and a European Commission scheme called Horizon 2020 Innovative Medicines Initiative-2.
Prof Isaacs continued: "“The concept of ‘resetting’ the immune system in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases has gained support over recent years and we are excited to be pioneers in this field.
"We are extremely grateful to have received funding from Versus Arthritis and the European Commission for this vital research, and to our patients who have taken part in the trial to date."
Lucy Donaldson, director for research and health intelligence at Versus Arthritis, said: "Currently, 450,000 people in England are living with rheumatoid arthritis, with 27,000 new cases identified each year. The pain and challenges of this condition can profoundly affect daily life, making it difficult for many to manage even basic tasks.
“At Versus Arthritis, we understand the significant burden that rheumatoid arthritis places on individuals and their families. That’s why we are deeply committed to advancing research into new approaches to treatment."
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